Paris, 14th September 2009: ENVIRONMENT 2009, the Middle East's leading exhibition and conference is set to record strong growth underpinned by massive public and private sector investments in conserving the environment and promoting sustainable development in the Middle East.

The ENVIRONMENT event is a comprehensive show that covers all environmental aspects while focusing on key issues confronting the Middle East such as water and waste management, harnessing renewable energy, pollution control and sustainable development.

The ENVIRONMENT 2009 Exhibition & Conference will be organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. It will be held 19 - 21 January 2009, under the patronage of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Sultan. Abu Dhabi, the host city of the show, is the capital of the UAE and a role model for environmental protection and sustainable development initiatives in the region.

Hayete Jemai, Show Manager, ENVIRONMENT 2009 said: "The Middle East is in the midst of a sustained boom phase. It is important to note that governments in the region have been taking steps to address the environmental challenges brought about by the rapid expansion of the economy and the burgeoning population".

"A focus on the environment had now moved to the top of the policy agenda and governments in the Middle East are investing billions of dollars to address environmental concerns", she added.

Abu Dhabi has launched a $250 million cleantech fund dedicated to the environment sector together with Credit Suisse, the leading global bank and Consensus Business Group (CBG) of the UK. The fund will invest in companies with promising cleantech, advanced energy and sustainability-related technologies

The Abu Dhabi government has also launched the Masdar initiative to create the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste city. Masdar city, expected to open in late 2009 will be an integrated "Green Community" in the heart of Abu Dhabi and will use the traditional planning principles of a walled city, together with existing technologies to achieve a zero-carbon and zero-waste sustainable development.

ENVIRONMENT 2009 is the fifth successive edition of the ENVIRONMENT series of trade shows. The biennial show has developed steadily since its inception in 2001 to emerge as a key platform to showcase products, services and technologies targeted at the Middle East's environment sector.

ENVIRONMENT 2009 will also host a conference that will serve as a convergence point for knowledge-exchange, networking and business generation. The main thrust of the conference will be on exploring and fostering business opportunities for corporations, governments and institutional entities. It will serve as a meeting point for decision-makers and thinkers paving the way for future business opportunities to be leveraged.

The last edition of ENVIRONMENT held earlier this year had over 330 exhibitors from 28 countries taking part, occupying a gross exhibit area of over 10,000 square metres. With national pavilions from 9 countries, over 5,000 visitors and a host of dignitaries, decision-makers and top officials from around the region visiting the show, the event has created a successful base on which the event's future growth can be built.

ENVIRONMENT 2009 will be organized with the support of Pollutec, the world's leading environment show. This association is expected to contribute to the growth in size and scope of ENVIRONMENT.

The ENVIRONMENT 2009 project team will strongly leverage Reed Exhibitions' international sales network to ensure the right exhibitors are able to utilize the platform provided by the show. An intensive visitor campaign will be conducted to ensure the right profile of visitors attend ENVIRONMENT 2009.

A host of major companies including Dolphin Energy, TOTAL, the ADNOC Group and ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority) who have been participants at previous editions of ENVIRONMENT have expressed keen interest in the upcoming edition as well.

For more information:

HAYETE JEMAI
Show Manager - ENVIRONMENT 2009
Ph: 009712 4446113
Fax: 009712 5553768
Email: hayete.jemai@reedexpo.ae

BRIAN CARVALHO
ASDA'A Public Relations
Ph: 009712 4446113
Fax: 009712 5553768
Email: b.carvalho@asdaa.com